The Johnny Cash musical revue Ring of Fire, country music superstar Tracy Lawrence and The Texas Tenors, Branson’s 2011 and 2012 Critic’s Choice Group of the Year, will all take the stage at the Arkansas State University-Newport Center for the Arts as part of the college’s Patron Series during the 2013-14 school year.

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Newport Independent - Newport, AR

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Posted Aug. 2, 2013 at 9:33 PM

Posted Aug. 2, 2013 at 9:33 PM

Ring of Fire gets the Patron Series off to an early start when the Broadway musical visits ASUN Sept. 29. Tracy Lawrence will perform the hits that made him famous in a Dec. 14 performance, and The Texas Tenors will wrap up the Patron Series with a Feb. 22 show.

Touching on the life and times of Johnny Cash, one of the world’s most legendary musical artists, the musical revue Ring of Fire is considered one of the best jukebox musicals of our time. This highly sought after performance will be presented by Merchants & Planters Bank in a special Sunday matinee performance beginning at 2:00 p.m.

Although Cash himself is never impersonated, Ring of Fire features a company of performers that will guide you on a journey through Cash’s storied life and celebrated music, from the cotton fields of Arkansas to the Grand Ole Opry. Ring of Fire features more than 35 hit songs from his long career including “I Walk The Line,” “Jackson,” “If I Were a Carpenter,” “I’ve Been Everywhere,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “A Boy Named Sue,” “Daddy Sang Bass,” and the title hit, “Ring of Fire.” The show features smashing medleys and bounce in its guitar-driven energy and promises to be one of the most enjoyed shows in the history of the Patron Series.

With 18 No. 1 hits and 22 Billboard top-10 singles under his belt, Tracy Lawrence is one of the most recognizable voices in country music. In an intimate, three-person acoustic set that is tailor-made for ASUN’s 600-seat theatre, Lawrence will perform hits such as “Time Marches On,” “Paint Me a Birmingham” and “Alibis.” Fans can also expect Lawrence to sprinkle in a few Christmas tunes, as well as selections from his new album Headlights, Taillights and Radios, which will be released later this month.

The multi-platinum CMA and ACM award-winning superstar has helped shape the sound of country music for two decades, recently celebrating 22 years in music. Few country music artists have ever known the kind of success Lawrence has earned and the influence his iconic voice has contributed to the Country music genre. Presented by C&C Distributors, showtime for the Saturday night performance is 7:00 p.m.

Over 100 million viewers tuned in to NBC’s America’s Got Talent in 2009 to see The Texas Tenors become the highest-rated group in the history of the show. John Hagen, Marcus Collins and J.C. Fisher will bring their unique blend of Country, Gospel, Classical and Broadway to ASU-Newport in a Saturday night performance presented by Arkansas Steel Associates set to begin at 7:00 p.m.

Page 2 of 2 - With breathtaking vocals, humor and cowboy charm, The Texas Tenors have traveled the globe, performing more than 500 concerts in the last four years. The Tenors have performed in more than 20 countries, including a 24-show tour of Great Britain and their current tour of China. They annually perform over 60 concerts each fall at Branson’s Starlite Theatre, where they were named Ensemble of the Year in 2011 and 2012, in addition to their Critic’s Choice Group of the Year awards. Their debut album, Country Roots – Classic Sound has the distinction of being the only independent album to reach No. 1 on both the Country and Classical charts. The Texas Tenors will release their second album, You Should Dream this winter, featuring a 65-piece orchestra and original songs to coincide with the December 2013 airing of their first PBS special, the nation-wide broadcast of “The Texas Tenors: You Should Dream Live.”

Currently, tickets are only available through Patron Series sponsorship. To become a Patron Series sponsor, contact Sandra Pankey at 870-523-5453 or 870-217-3711. Season tickets will go on sale to the public Monday, Aug. 12. Season tickets for the ASUN Patron Series are priced at $60 and may be purchased by visiting the ASUN Business Office on the Newport campus or by phone at 870-512-7802 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.